Time for a shout out to my mom and dad. On this last week of the third month in the ninth year of the 21st century, they are officially on cable high speed internet. They've been on dial-up all this time. No joke. Some of the time it was because it wasn't available in their area...but then it was just making that big technological jump. Mom has definitely come along way...she grew up in a town with a switchboard and party line. Trust me, we've been urging her. Especially after our last visit and it took 2 hours to determine what time Disneyworld opened on their website.
But Mom did it at last. Hurray! So she and Dad can finally look at this blog, and the entire world wide web for that matter, in the blink of an eye.
Welcome Mom & Dad...glad to have you! Hope you enjoy the ride.
Friday, March 28, 2008
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Smell that?
That is the smell of springtime in the Valley. Fresh cut grass, a new leather mitt, hot dogs and anticipation. We're right in the middle of the spring training season my friends...and for this sports fan, that's a beautiful thing. Every spring I appreciate living in an area that baseball fans come from all over the country to. Here they can watch their favorite teams play at the intimate venues of the Cactus League in arguably the best spring weather in the nation.
And nothing can be better than working for a company that allows me the luxury of heading out to the ballpark on a beautiful spring day, with a group of people I enjoy, for a "team building" outing. Because I think we'd all agree that squishing your toes in the fresh grass, drinking a beer and eating a hot dog with the sun on your back is that much sweeter at 2pm on a workday!
Sunday, March 9, 2008
Lucky number seven
OK. Enough about material things. Let me get back to the important stuff like first born children turning 7. Yes, Emily turned seven at the end of February. The way things worked out, the lucky girl has had over two weeks of festivities.
The weekend before her birthday, GMa Carol came for a visit. In between cookie booths and other social commitments, we enjoyed some pre-birthday celebrating including a sushi dinner on Saturday and dinner and cake with our family friends on Sunday.
Emily's party with school friends was originally scheduled for the Saturday following her birthday, but with Steve in New Jersey, we postponed things until this weekend. So yesterday the festivities continued with 5 of her friends. Once all of the girls had arrived at the house, I packed them up and drove to the neighborhood nail salon. There the girls were treated to having their toes and finger nails painted (with flower accents of course). We returned home for a snack on Hannah Montana (of course) cupcakes and decorating flip flops (to go with the fancy toes).
The weekend before her birthday, GMa Carol came for a visit. In between cookie booths and other social commitments, we enjoyed some pre-birthday celebrating including a sushi dinner on Saturday and dinner and cake with our family friends on Sunday.
Then on Emily's actual birthday she ended up having a half-day of school (not in her honor…just another lucky coincidence) so I took a half-day off from work as well and we had a fun day together. First I took cupcakes in to her classroom. Then we spent the afternoon at Fiddlesticks. This included a couple rounds of miniature golf, bumper boats and go-carts. After that we hooked up with Steve and Megan for a birthday dinner at Emily's choice of restaurant.
Emily's party with school friends was originally scheduled for the Saturday following her birthday, but with Steve in New Jersey, we postponed things until this weekend. So yesterday the festivities continued with 5 of her friends. Once all of the girls had arrived at the house, I packed them up and drove to the neighborhood nail salon. There the girls were treated to having their toes and finger nails painted (with flower accents of course). We returned home for a snack on Hannah Montana (of course) cupcakes and decorating flip flops (to go with the fancy toes).
Click here to see more pictures from all of the festivities. All in all a pretty good deal, don't you think?
Christmas in March
You know you've become a mature, responsible adult when appliances excite you. Last year it was our new box freezer. Costco bulk purchasing had a whole new meaning.
This year, it is that baby right over there. A Dyson DC-07 canister vacuum. I'm thrilled about it. Earlier today I took Emily to Toys-R-Us so she could use a gift card she received for her birthday. Next stop was Best Buy for this beauty. On the drive home, we both anxiously anticipated the opportunity to play with our new toys. Emily busted open her Littlest Pet Shop toy and I vacuumed the entire house. It was total bliss for us both.
This year, it is that baby right over there. A Dyson DC-07 canister vacuum. I'm thrilled about it. Earlier today I took Emily to Toys-R-Us so she could use a gift card she received for her birthday. Next stop was Best Buy for this beauty. On the drive home, we both anxiously anticipated the opportunity to play with our new toys. Emily busted open her Littlest Pet Shop toy and I vacuumed the entire house. It was total bliss for us both.
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
He's dreamy...
Steve has returned from NJ and all is well in our household again. All us girls miss him terribly when he's away.
He brought some old pictures back with him. I had to share this one. Look at him. I'm pretty darn sure that had I known him in elementary school I would have been crushing on him and practiced writing my married name in curly cursive all over my Trapper Keeper.
I will resist the temptation to make a Steve-like comment about the sheep though. ;-)
He brought some old pictures back with him. I had to share this one. Look at him. I'm pretty darn sure that had I known him in elementary school I would have been crushing on him and practiced writing my married name in curly cursive all over my Trapper Keeper.
I will resist the temptation to make a Steve-like comment about the sheep though. ;-)
Monday, March 3, 2008
Both Great & Grand
For the two people that may check this Blog on a regular basis, you noticed that I hadn't written in awhile before last night. It wasn't for lack of material. We had a lovely visit from Steve's mom a week ago, Emily celebrated her 7th (!!) birthday on the 27th and spring training started in Arizona (my favorite time of year). So there is plenty of fun stuff to share and I promise to get to that in the next couple days. But during Carol's visit we had some sudden and sad news and frankly I just wasn't up for creative prose.
After a busy but fun day on the 23rd, we all went out for dinner at our favorite neighborhood sushi restaurant. It was a fun time and we returned to the house in great spirits. The mood then took an abrupt swing. We had a message waiting for us from Steve's cousin in New Jersey. His grandmother, Carol's mother, was at the hospital from what was believed to be a heart attack. As the evening progressed, the updates from New Jersey came regularly and the news became graver. The final phone call came at midnight MST.
GGma lived her 88 years to the fullest. For any of you that were at our wedding, GGMa and Pop were the last couple on the dance floor when we had the anniversary dance (meaning they had been married longer than anyone else there). She had 4 children, 7 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren. The thing about GGMa that makes me smile is the joy she had being surrounded by her family when an event brought us all together. She would radiate delight when we were all around and she had an infectious laugh. I am grateful to have had her in my life…and I’m even more grateful that our daughters had the opportunity to meet their Great Grandmother.
We will miss you GGMa…but we take solace in knowing that you and Pop will continue to take delight in your family from your vantage point in heaven.
After a busy but fun day on the 23rd, we all went out for dinner at our favorite neighborhood sushi restaurant. It was a fun time and we returned to the house in great spirits. The mood then took an abrupt swing. We had a message waiting for us from Steve's cousin in New Jersey. His grandmother, Carol's mother, was at the hospital from what was believed to be a heart attack. As the evening progressed, the updates from New Jersey came regularly and the news became graver. The final phone call came at midnight MST.
GGma lived her 88 years to the fullest. For any of you that were at our wedding, GGMa and Pop were the last couple on the dance floor when we had the anniversary dance (meaning they had been married longer than anyone else there). She had 4 children, 7 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren. The thing about GGMa that makes me smile is the joy she had being surrounded by her family when an event brought us all together. She would radiate delight when we were all around and she had an infectious laugh. I am grateful to have had her in my life…and I’m even more grateful that our daughters had the opportunity to meet their Great Grandmother.
We will miss you GGMa…but we take solace in knowing that you and Pop will continue to take delight in your family from your vantage point in heaven.
Foo Crew
I am a fan of live music. I went to my first concert in 1986...Book of Love opened for Depeche Mode at Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View, CA. And I’ve been dancing and singing along at shows ever since.
A good live show makes you an even bigger fan of an artist or band. It showcases their musical talent and brings a different edge to familiar songs. Tonight I went to a live show that I would rank in my top 5 favorite concerts. The Foo Fighters. The founder and lead singer, Dave Grohl, once played drums for a little band out of Seattle called Nirvana. I admit to having a crush on the man. My husband is aware of this…so it’s not a deep- forbidden-love kind of crush. Just an innocent appreciation for the guy’s talent (he was a one-man band for the original Foo Fighters album and has fingers in a number of other projects), a knack for being goofy (check out almost any one of their videos…but this one is my favorite) and a self-deprecating take on his own fame. Plus I think he’s pretty cute, especially after a haircut and shave.
Anyhow…tonight was a fantastic show. Dave’s energy was contagious. The other musicians in the band were impressive (Taylor Hawkins on drums...wow!) and they did this amazing acoustic set on a substage in the middle of the arena (now I'm lovin' on their acoustic live album, Skin and Bones). I was a fan before…but I really love them now. It’s 12:41 in the morning, my ears are ringing, my voice is hoarse and I’ll probably be awake for at least another hour while the energy wears down. So tomorrow at 3pm when I’m crashing at work, I’ll just turn on some Echos, Silence, Patience and Grace and rock on.
A good live show makes you an even bigger fan of an artist or band. It showcases their musical talent and brings a different edge to familiar songs. Tonight I went to a live show that I would rank in my top 5 favorite concerts. The Foo Fighters. The founder and lead singer, Dave Grohl, once played drums for a little band out of Seattle called Nirvana. I admit to having a crush on the man. My husband is aware of this…so it’s not a deep- forbidden-love kind of crush. Just an innocent appreciation for the guy’s talent (he was a one-man band for the original Foo Fighters album and has fingers in a number of other projects), a knack for being goofy (check out almost any one of their videos…but this one is my favorite) and a self-deprecating take on his own fame. Plus I think he’s pretty cute, especially after a haircut and shave.
Anyhow…tonight was a fantastic show. Dave’s energy was contagious. The other musicians in the band were impressive (Taylor Hawkins on drums...wow!) and they did this amazing acoustic set on a substage in the middle of the arena (now I'm lovin' on their acoustic live album, Skin and Bones). I was a fan before…but I really love them now. It’s 12:41 in the morning, my ears are ringing, my voice is hoarse and I’ll probably be awake for at least another hour while the energy wears down. So tomorrow at 3pm when I’m crashing at work, I’ll just turn on some Echos, Silence, Patience and Grace and rock on.
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